G.R.E.A.T.S. of the Mauryan/Gupta EmpireBy: Anastassia Korin, Kevin Byrne, Emily Sandman, and Eitan Golden
"Facts made for historians, on the empires of the Gupta's and Mauryan's"
The Mauryan and Gupta civilizaions had many achievements. Samudra Gupta's army was well-known and fiered for its personal mass that included 100's of thousands of trained men and thousands of more elephants. The region of Bihar in the Mauryan empire was the birthplace of Buddhism, a major religion today. The empire was a massive location for trade with nearby countries, especially as Candra Gupta II took control. With that came punched coins and the creation of a written language. Art and Architecture exploded, too bringing in poets and incredibly designed buildings. Plus, tools designed for the army helped in advancements for transportation and the achievements in warfare. Even the system of society grew and intensified the way of life for the empires. The success of these civilizations would shape present-day India in more ways than one.
Goverment
By: Anastassia Korin
The Government in the Mauryan empire was incredibly strict and rigidly organized. The land was seperated into four regions led by a vicory, then fruther seperated into provinces that reported to a governer, and finally broke up into smaller villages. All the leaders reported to Candra Gupta, who proclaimed himself as kind around 380. The government itself was a bureaucracy, which worked through departments that were controlled by appointed officials. After the Gupta empire took over the Mauryan's, Gupta worked to expand his empire after his father, Samudra Gupta, with the massive, well known army. This army was well known and said to have a force of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants. Gupta ruled for about 35 years and was then succeded by his son, Bindusara. The people were organized by a caste system, and more specifically the Brahmin caste. Laws and rights were given based on a persons birthright and therefore, the class in which they stand. Generally, the system of government was a very strict and organized plan that ruled the peoples lives.
Mauryan/Gupta Army
Candra Gupta
Religion
By:Eitan Golden
-In the Northeastern region of India is Bihar. It is known as the base of the Mauryan empire, and it is the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism.
-During The reign of the Gupta empire there were three major religions Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
-The Guptas themselves expressed their faith in Hinduism by building temples, religious sculptures,murals, and paintings.
-It became common for worshippers to choose one Hindu god or goddess to worship. And as a result there were many shrines and temples built.
-Although most Guptas were hindu they also were a huge supporters of buddhism. As a result many shrines, monestaries, and Universities were built.
-Hence the Mauryans were polytheistic
Bihar
Temple built by Asoka on site of Buddha's first sermon.
Economy
Asoka's charitable rule provided a boost to the economy. The outcome was an increase in domestic and foreign trade that made India to become really rich.
Expanding trade led to the growth of a written language, known as Brahmi. This also lead to the invention of punched coins in the Ganges River valley. Black polished pottery was also developed. This made another important trading good.
Economic stucture in the Ganges River valley got more popular during this time. With the boost of merchant and craftsman groups, a system of banking was found.
Candra Gupta II ruled his empire for about 35 years. After gaining control of ports on the west coast, he encoraged oversea trade which then expanded the economy. Arts and crafts was also especially important because the manufacture of fine fabrics was a lucrative trade item.
Candra Gupta Maurya seatled to take advantage of travel in the east and west. Gandhara became a big stop for trade from China, Greece, India, and Persia. Over time, the mix of cultures led to a complex culture made up of Greek, Indic, and Persian influences.
The trade roads that had brought successive merchants, armies, and missionaries through Gandhara, had created a culture with a mixture of traditions.
Many coins of the period showed Samudra Gupta playing the lute. He was a devoted worshipper of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Coins from the ancient indian time.
Black Polished Pottery.
Art
By Kevin Byrne
In the Maurya and Gupta civilization arts a played a big part in there culture.
In Candra Gupta II had poets, artists, musicians, and scientists as a main part of is court.
Poetry compettions were very popular in Gupta court.
Two epic poems that were resited in court is Ramayana and Mahabharata.
They were poems about Hindu beliefs and values.
Kalidasa was a famous poet and play writer from this civilization.
Many things that were built in the civilization were influenced by Persian art.
Early buildings were built out of wood. Buildings such as battlements, fortresses and royal palaces were made out of bricks.
Throughout the civilization they built big stone and brick pillars that had Asokas beliefs in Dharma and historical events.
They built 4 lions on top of there first school in Sarnath.
Lakshmana temple
Lakshmana temple
Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Technology
By:Eitan Golden
-The Mauryan army was large. It had about 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants.
-The army used Indian bows made of bamboo with a metal or bone arrow, long narrow shields made of ox hide stretched over wooden or wicker frame, lance, spear, or javelin, Heavy infantry carried long two handed slashing swords, they also used catapults, ballistae, and battering rams. Bowman also used fire arrows, pitch pots, and fireballs.
-Everything was written in Sandskrit.
-The main methods of transportation were horses, foot, and elephants.
Mauryan war elephant.
Gladius(Mauryan war sword)
Society
By: Anastassia Korin
After the fall of the Mauryan empire by the Gupta empires, the civilization began a process of social classification by the Brahmin caste. A caste is a social group into which a person is born and cannot change out of, no matter their level of work. During the Gupta times, the castes began to evolve due to trades, religions, and jobs or occupations. Still, there are three main levels to the caste system. The Brahmins, or preists were considered closest to moskha, the goal of human life to Hindu's. The Kshatriya's were warriors that were the spine of the army, and controlled the mercenaries, and aristocrats. Finally, the Vaisyas were mostly herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants. They had hard and restriced lives. Dirty work such as cleaning streets and making leather was left to them. Within these 3 main classes were other branches, too. The entire empire was organized by the caste system.
"Facts made for historians, on the empires of the Gupta's and Mauryan's"
Goverment
By: Anastassia Korin
The Government in the Mauryan empire was incredibly strict and rigidly organized. The land was seperated into four regions led by a vicory, then fruther seperated into provinces that reported to a governer, and finally broke up into smaller villages. All the leaders reported to Candra Gupta, who proclaimed himself as kind around 380. The government itself was a bureaucracy, which worked through departments that were controlled by appointed officials. After the Gupta empire took over the Mauryan's, Gupta worked to expand his empire after his father, Samudra Gupta, with the massive, well known army. This army was well known and said to have a force of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants. Gupta ruled for about 35 years and was then succeded by his son, Bindusara. The people were organized by a caste system, and more specifically the Brahmin caste. Laws and rights were given based on a persons birthright and therefore, the class in which they stand. Generally, the system of government was a very strict and organized plan that ruled the peoples lives.
Religion
By:Eitan Golden-In the Northeastern region of India is Bihar. It is known as the base of the Mauryan empire, and it is the birthplace of Buddhism and Jainism.
-During The reign of the Gupta empire there were three major religions Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
-The Guptas themselves expressed their faith in Hinduism by building temples, religious sculptures,murals, and paintings.
-It became common for worshippers to choose one Hindu god or goddess to worship. And as a result there were many shrines and temples built.
-Although most Guptas were hindu they also were a huge supporters of buddhism. As a result many shrines, monestaries, and Universities were built.
-Hence the Mauryans were polytheistic
Economy
Coins from the ancient indian time.
Black Polished Pottery.
Art
By Kevin ByrneTechnology
By:Eitan Golden-The Mauryan army was large. It had about 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants.
-The army used Indian bows made of bamboo with a metal or bone arrow, long narrow shields made of ox hide stretched over wooden or wicker frame, lance, spear, or javelin, Heavy infantry carried long two handed slashing swords, they also used catapults, ballistae, and battering rams. Bowman also used fire arrows, pitch pots, and fireballs.
-Everything was written in Sandskrit.
-The main methods of transportation were horses, foot, and elephants.
Society
By: Anastassia Korin
After the fall of the Mauryan empire by the Gupta empires, the civilization began a process of social classification by the Brahmin caste. A caste is a social group into which a person is born and cannot change out of, no matter their level of work. During the Gupta times, the castes began to evolve due to trades, religions, and jobs or occupations. Still, there are three main levels to the caste system. The Brahmins, or preists were considered closest to moskha, the goal of human life to Hindu's. The Kshatriya's were warriors that were the spine of the army, and controlled the mercenaries, and aristocrats. Finally, the Vaisyas were mostly herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants. They had hard and restriced lives. Dirty work such as cleaning streets and making leather was left to them. Within these 3 main classes were other branches, too. The entire empire was organized by the caste system.